How to setup Active Directory on a Windows 2003 Server

This post will completely cover installing Active Directory on Windows 2003. As you will see it will only take about 15 Steps! Active Directory is essentially a database that Windows Servers store Network Users and Computers. All objects link to a GUID. If you are interested in learning more about Active Directory (AD) check out some of my other posts.

Setting up Active Directory in Windows 2003

We are going to setup a new domain called “testdomain.private”.

1.) START – RUN – DC Promo

2.) Wizard Starts. Click Next.

3.) Give you some things to think about. We are going to assume that all clients are going to be Windows XP or higher. Click “Next”.

4.) Because we are creating a new domain select “Domain Controller for a new domain”.

5.) We are going to create the first Domain in a new forest.

6.) Type: testdomain.private

7.) The NetBIOS will already be pre-filled for you. Click “Next”.

8.) The info for the Active Directory Database is already filled out. I like to change the log folder like so. Click “Next”.

9.) The “SYSVOL” will already be filled out for you. Click “Next”.

10.) Select “Install and configure the DNS server on this computer and set this computer to use the DNS serve as it’s preferred DNS server.

11.) Set what types of computers will be authenticating against Active Directory.

12.) Enter Password for Active Directory

13.) This next screen just asks you to verify the last 12 Steps. Click Next.